by the| El Reportero staff
San Francisco’s public transit system is bracing for some bumpy rides this summer, as the city’s looming budget constraints now officially extend to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Starting June 21, Muni riders will see notable service reductions and route changes—adjustments that city officials say are necessary to plug a $50 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year.
While these service trims may rattle daily commuters, especially those dependent on key lines, there’s a sigh of relief for residents in the Mission District, Bernal Heights, and the Excelsior. Most routes serving these neighborhoods will remain intact—for now. The same can’t be said for other parts of the city, where reroutes, stop eliminations, and reduced hours are on the horizon.
According to city transit officials, the changes aim to align service with available resources while trying to preserve reliability and safety. “Nobody likes cuts,” one Muni planner stated during a recent community forum. “But this is about preventing even deeper service slashes next year.”
What’s Changing Starting June 21
Several of Muni’s most familiar bus lines will undergo major changes, particularly those that extend past Market Street. Among them:
- The 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, and 31 Balboa routes will now turn back at Market Street during weekdays, no longer continuing through downtown. Riders must transfer at Market Street to reach the city’s core. Muni promises connections every 2–4 minutes on Market, thanks to combined bus and Muni Metro services.
- The 5R Fulton Rapid and 9R San Bruno Rapid routes will still operate outside of early mornings and late evenings. When those rapid lines are offline, the standard routes will temporarily continue through Market as usual.
- The 31 Balboa will stop short at 5th & Market both weekdays and weekends. Passengers heading south of Market can hop on the 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, or the T Third light rail line.
- Two beloved routes, the 6 Haight-Parnassus and 21 Hayes, will be merged into a new hybrid: the 6 Hayes-Parnassus. This route will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight daily, running every 20 minutes. The new line will turn around at Civic Center Station and serve different legs of the former 6 and 21 routes, depending on where riders are boarding.
To support these modifications, Muni has updated transfer maps on its website for all affected lines.
Neighborhood Impact: Relief for Some, Frustration for Others
Mission District commuters can breathe easy. Their regular routes, such as the 14 Mission and 49 Van Ness-Mission, are left untouched by this service reduction—likely a decision influenced by high ridership numbers and vocal community feedback. The Excelsior and Bernal Heights areas also came out relatively unscathed, with minimal changes to local routes like the 52 Excelsior and 67 Bernal Heights, save for minor stop relocations designed to improve safety and visibility.
Still, the ripple effect of the changes could be felt citywide, especially downtown, where more transfers and more waiting might now be part of the daily grind.
For riders like Theresa López, a home healthcare worker who lives near Outer Richmond, the re-routing of the 5 Fulton is more than a nuisance. “This is going to make my trip to Civic Center take longer,” she said. “I already work two jobs. I can’t afford delays.”
Why the Cuts Are Happening
The city’s transportation budget is under immense pressure, and Muni is not immune. The agency projects a $322 million budget gap in the near future as COVID-era federal and state relief funds dry up. Officials say the current 2 percent service cut is a preemptive move to save $7 million, in hopes of avoiding steeper reductions down the line.
Funding sources like fare revenue, parking fees, and contributions from the city’s General Fund are all trending downward—some due to changing commuter habits, others because of a still-recovering local economy. Despite previous cost-saving moves like slower hiring and stricter fare enforcement, the budget still comes up short.
According to an SFMTA spokesperson, the cuts were the least damaging among three plans floated earlier this year. Community input helped scale down the proposed cuts from 4 percent to 2 percent, sparing many high-ridership routes and avoiding more aggressive system-wide rollbacks.
Not All Changes Are About the Budget
While budget constraints dominate the headlines, not every modification is money-related. Several stop relocations and route refinements are aimed at improving safety, traffic flow, and accessibility. For example:
-The 9 San Bruno’s outbound stop at 228 Bayshore is being shifted away from a dangerous traffic merge zone.
-New stops are being added to the 15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express to better serve local housing areas.
-The 28R 19th Avenue Rapid gains a new stop at Lincoln Way to ease crowding.
-The 67 Bernal Heights will avoid tight turns by rerouting along Folsom instead of Ripley.
These upgrades are part of an ongoing effort to modernize the transit system and make it safer for everyone—especially in areas with steep hills and narrow intersections that have historically caused issues for large buses.
Fare Hikes? Yes, But Not Too Painful
Along with service changes, Muni is nudging fares upward. While the increases weren’t detailed in the public memo, sources suggest that most single rides will increase by 25 to 50 cents. Monthly passes may also see a slight bump. City officials argue that the hikes are “modest” and won’t interfere with “everyday necessities”—like, as one city staffer joked, “your weekly burrito budget.”
Discount programs for seniors, youth, and low-income riders will remain in place.
How to Stay Informed or Get Help
SFMTA is offering several ways for residents to stay informed or ask for assistance:
-Email: MuniCuts@SFMTA.com
-Phone: 415-646-2005 – at 311 if you’re at a location and don’t know what bus will take you to a particular location.
-Website: SFMTA.com/ServiceChanges
Additional resources include multilingual presentations, online maps, and an upcoming podcast episode explaining the changes.
